Explaining The Performance Choices

Aram, Nick, and I chose the conversation between Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo when the ghost first enters. We chose this conversation because it shows a huge tonal shift as well as the comparison of Appearance Vs. Reality. Horatio "appears" to be arrogant and tough and does not buy into the claim that a ghost resembling dead Hamlet just entered. In reality, when he sees the ghost, he does not believe his eyes. This scene is important because it corresponds to two key themes and motifs in Hamlet.

PG 833: #3

Appearance and reality are both extremely significant themes in Hamlet. Appearance is how something "seems" or "looks" while reality is the state of existence of something. In Hamlet, Claudius "appears" to be the rightful and true King of Denmark but in reality, is the murderer of his brother, Hamlet. Claudius killed his brother, the former King, solely for political gain. In Hamlet, reality is hidden by appearance. King Claudius' manipulating and pompous persona distracts the other actors and actresses in the play. Hamlet, King Hamlet's son, is the proper King because he naturally has an authoritative personality. Compared to Claudius, Hamlet is much more fit to rule Denmark BUT Claudius managed to cast a great deal of support by the "blind" people on himself. Ultimately, reality can easily be covered by appearance just as Hamlet is in this play.

PG 833: #7

One major conflict in Hamlet is honesty and deception. King Claudius exemplifies this conflict because of his dishonesty for political gain. Claudius is a double-faced man who keeps many secrets from society in order to further his political goals. The biggest secret that Claudius keeps from the people of Denmark is that he murdered his brother, the former King of Denmark, because his brother’s death is the only way that Claudius could achieve his political aspiration to become King. The people of Denmark are unable to see Claudius’ duplicitous nature through the dialect of his speeches and view him as a great king and ruler, unaware of his hidden agenda. Claudius seems to act and care about his people when in truth he is only concerned with securing his image as a benevolent King. Claudius seems to represent the community and appear kingly when he delivers his long-winded speeches to the people of Denmark. All of this proves how deceiving King Claudius truly is and how important the conflict of honesty and deception really is.

PG 832: #9

I chose the soliloquy from I.ii.129-59 because Hamlet's true emotional personality is openly expressed and easy to see. Hamlet states: "But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: / So excellent a king; that was, to this, / Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother..."(I.ii.138-140) which shows how much he looked up to his father. Hamlet refers to his father as an excellent King as well as very loving to his wife, Hamlet's mother, further showing how well-rounded he was as an individual. However, Hamlet also connotes, in the same soliloquy, how he sexually thinks about his mother often. He says that he is ashamed of his thoughts: "Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman--"(I.ii.146) but still talks about the grotesque images. This soliloquy shows much about Hamlet through the sadness brought by his father's death and the disgusting thoughts that go through his head.

Discussion Question #14

Hamlet states: "Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"(2.2.236-237). Hamlet means that ever since the death of his father, his lifestyle has drastically changed. Thinking about actions, real or fake, changes one's view on a certain topic. I agree with Hamlet because of the situation that he is involved in. The death of his father not only changed the relationships within his family, but also the relationship of him and Denmark. Hamlet then states: "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw"(2.2.330-331). In this quote, Hamlet shows how mad he truly is but ultimately, all he wants is revenge.

Discussion Question #7

Hamlet tells his companions he is likely to put on an "antic disposition" to give somewhat of a heads up to society for his behavior that is soon to come. I believe that Hamlet's behavior is a deliberate strategy and a natural reaction to his anger and grief. His behavior is a deliberate strategy because he is planning out the revenge on Claudius but it is also a natural reaction because he feels that the murder of his father by Claudius will only be equalled if he kills Claudius himself. Thus, Hamlet's behavior represents both a deliberate strategy and a natural reaction.

Discussion Question #4

Both Laertes and Polonius object to Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet because they feel that Hamlet does not have time for love at the moment. He just lost his father and now has to take over the throne as the King of Denmark. Laertes and Polonius don't want Ophelia to be in a relationship that she will ultimately regret. In act I, scene iii, Laertes and Polonius try to break Ophelia and Hamet up and thus, act as somewhat of a fatherly towards Ophelia by trying to protect her from Hamlet. Polonius and Laertes believe that the social class that Ophelia belongs to is not quite mature enough for that of Hamlet's. Thus they feel that Ophelia does not belong with Hamlet.